Druggist&#39;s device for dividing powders.



J. D. KNOWLTON. DRUGGISTS DEVICE FOR DIVIDING PoWDERs.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 8, 1911.

CDLUMEIIA PLANor'mPMo.. WASHINGTON. n, c.

uNiTnD sTATEs ,PATENT onnioia.N

JOI-IN D. KNOWLTON, Y0F WESTBROOK, MAINE.

DRUGGISTS DEVICE FOR DIVIDING- JEOVVIDEIR'S.V i

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedv A110'. 27,1912. i

Application led March 8, 1911.

Serial No. 613,187.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. KNowLToN, of Westbrook, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Druggists Devices for Dividing Powders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for dividing powders into equal portions, and is de signed for the use of prescription druggists to facilitate the compounding of drugs in powderform. This'work is now commonly done by placing the powder on a flat smooth surface and bythe aid of a knife or other like instrument dividing it by the eye into piles supposed to contain` equal quantities. This method is a very slow and inaccurate one, and my invention is directed to the devising of an apparatus which will enable the work to be `done morerapidly and accurately.

My invent-ion will be readily understood by means of the accompanwing drawing in which is shown a device, constructed according to my invention in its preferable form and designed particularly for putting up powders in capsules of the form known as konseals These are capsules made in two halves, each saucer-shaped and made of starchy substance capable of sticking together when moistened.

In the drawing, Figure l, is a part section and part elevation through the receiving vessel. Fig. 2, is a like view of the combined receiving vessel and dividing member. Fig. 3, is a central vertical section through the apparatus after the powders have been deposited in the half capsules. Fig. 4, is a section on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is a section on the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. I6, is a plan of the sealing plate. Fig. 7, is a section like the lower half of Fig. 3, with the sealing plate substituted for the hopper.

' the mass of powder is first placed to get it into condition to be divided. This vessel has an annular space of such-form that when the vessel is slightly jarred the powder will tend to settle with a horizontal upper surcause the surface of the powder to become almost precisely level. This is an important consideration, since if the annular mass is out of level, or if there is irregularity in the surface, the subsequent division will be imperfect. to the vessel l, the other parts of the apparat-us I secure on the upper end of the inner cone 2, a spindle preferably in the form of a hollow tube 3.

QThe annular mass of powder is accurately divided into an equal number of parts, in the present case twelve, by means of a radially arranged series of blades 5, adapt-ed `to t into the annular space and to be thrust downward through the mass of powder. These blades 5 are as herein shown, secured to the outer surface of an inverted cone 4. The blades 5 thus form separate partitions to divide the powder, and the blades and the outer surface of the cone constitute a series of chutes for discharging the divided powders when the apparatus is inverted.

.As shown, a sleeve 6 is secured to the center of the cone 4, and this sleeve 6 is adapted to fit over the tubular spindle 3, thus centering the two parts. Means are provided for receiving the individual powders as they For convenience in connecting fall from the chutes when the apparatus is inverted. The individual powders may be received in receptacle of any desired form, by arranging them so as to register with the discharge ends of the chute. In the present instance when the powders are to be sealed in capsules, I make use of a receiving plate vprovided with means for retaining the half capsules and holding them in position to catch the individual powders as they fall from the chutes. As here shown, I make use of a circular plate 7 having a spindle 9 which fits into the tube 3.

For the purpose of receiving and retaining the half capsules l0, I form openings 8 in the plate 7, these openings registering with the chutes and being positioned to receive the individual powders as they run from the chutes. A feather 11 located at the base of the spindle 9 fits in a notch 12 in the end of the sleeve and fixes the position of the plate 7 so that the openings will register with the chutes. Means are provided for guiding the individual powders into the u half capsules "so 'that 'none brule material feather 11 `and locates the position,Y of the plate 14 with respect to the plate 7. Means are provided` Afor securing together the plates 7 and 14 so, that they will hold together u on being inverted. n As here shown, a stud 1 7 is inserted in the plate 7.and it projects upward abeve its upper surface. An opening in the plate 14 admits the stud and a latch- 18 pivoted to the plate 14 t-s in a lateral slot in the Ystud 17. The slot receives the edge of the latch 18 andy serves to secure the two parts together.

After the individual powders are deposited in the half capsules, the other halves 0f the Capsules are cemented te the lled halves This is done as here Shown. by means of a circular sealing plate 19 which tits over the spindle 9. The plate 1 9 is provided with openings 20, similar to those in the plate 7, so that the half capsules may be placedtherein in an inverted position. The openingsQO are of such size that the half capsules will go with a close fit, and the plate may be inverted without dropping out the capsules. A hole is formed in the plate 19 te admit the lStud 17.'

Having thus described the construction of myV apparatus, its operation is easily understeed., The whole amount of powder is laced in the receiving vessel and the latter 1s slightl jarred by striking itdown on a level sur ace or otherwise. The powder distributes itself uniformly in the annular Space- The dividing member iSnOW-Slpfped OIL over` the, spindle 3, and the blades pass dow-n through the mass ef powder, forming twelve partitions which separate the powder v, inte twelve equal parts.` The hopper memis new slippedon' Qverthe spindle 9- of thev receiving plate 7 ,Y the latter having previously been loaded with half capsules, and the twg. are fastened together by means of the latch 18. The hopper member and the receiving member, being thus secured together, are now inverted and the spindle 9- isl thrust down through the tube 3, as shown injFig. 3, in an inverted position. The apparatus is now seized by both hands and by a quick motion invertedv intol the positions shown in Fig. 3. The individual powders nowfrun down the several chutes into the half capsules, being confined by theI hoppers 13, so` that they do not spill outside the capsules. 'Ihe hopper, member and its supersedfparts are now removed, and` the seal- 'les plats S leaded with `half. capsules The edges offthelhalf capsules'inV the plate 19 are now moistened by a moistening roller or otherwise, the plate 19 yis slipped on the spindle 9 and theztvvo plates brought together as indicated in Fig. 7. As soon as the two halves of the capsules come in con-y tact they will adhere, and the filled capsule may be taken out'. It will be found that a very accurate division of the powders has taken place, as accurate as if they had been Carefully weighed. j

Instead of the meansfor filling capsules` here shown, the individual powders may be otherwise disposed of after they are separated. Y

Instead of making the receiving vessel `with an annular space, it may be madewithout a center, although I find that the construction described, produces a more accurate leveling of the surface of the powder, than in a vessel without a center.

Vhen an open vessel is used, the dividing blades may be otherwise disposed than as shown above where they extend radiallyout from a central core.

I claim: p

1. A device for dividing powders including a receiving vessel having an annular space, a dividing member consisting of an inverted cone having radial blades adapted toy fit in said annular space, and to form chutes for discharging the powders, and a receiving member adapted to fit on the Lipper end of the dividing member and containing a plurality of pockets registering with said chutes for `receiving the divided powders inverted cone having radial blades adafpted to fit in said annular space, and to orm chutes for discharging t-he powders, anda receiving member adapted to t lon the upper endj of the dividing member and containing a pluralityv of openings adapted to hold halfl capsules and registering with the chutes for receiving the divided powders when the apparatus is inverted.

3. AV device for Vdividing powders includ. ing a receiving vessel having an annular space, a dividing member consisting of an inverted cone having radial blades adapted to fit in vsaid annular space, and to form chutes` for discharging the powders, a re' ceiving member adapted to t onv theupperend of the dividing member and containing a plurality of openings adapted to hold half capsules and registering-with therchutes fork receiving they dividedpowders when the ap-V paratus is inverted, and a hopper memberL between' the dividing and receiving mem-l bers having a series ofh'oppers forguiding the powders from the chutes to the/half capsules.

lio

iii-5 4. A device for dividing powders including a receiving vessel having an annular space, a dividing member consisting of an inverted cone having radial blades adapted to iit in said annular space and to form chutes for discharging the powders, a receiving plate having openings for retaining half capsules and registering with the chutes, a sealing plate having capsules receiving openings registering with those in the receiving plate and guides ior fitting the two plates together to seal the corre spending half capsules.

5. A device :tor dividing powders including a receiving vessel having an annular space, a dividing member consisting of an inverted cone having radial blades adapted to it in said annular space, and to form chutes for discharging the powders, a receiving member adapted to iit on the upper end of the dividing member and containing a plurality of openings adapted to hold halt capsules and registering with the chutes for receiving the divided powders when the apparatus is inverted, and a sealing plate having capsule receiving openings registering with those in the receiving plate and guides tor litting the sealing and receiving plates together.

6. A device for dividing powders including a receiving vessel having an annular space and a central vertical tube, a dividing member consisting of a sleeve adapted to tit over said tube, an inverted cone secured to said sleeve, and a series of radial blades on the outside of said cone and fitting said annular space to form discharging chutes, a receiving plate having a central spindle adapted to fit in said tube and a series of capsule retaining openings registering with said chutes, and a sealing plate fitting over` said spindle and containing capsule retaining openings registering with those in said receiving plate.

7. A device for dividing powders including a receiving vessel having an annular space and a central vertical tube, a dividing member consisting of a sleeve adapted to it over said tube, an inverted cone secured to said sleeve, and a series of radial blades on the out-side of said cone and fitting said an nular space to form discharging chutes, a receiving plate having a central spindle adapted to tit in said tube and a series of capsule retaining openings registering with said chutes, and a hopper member adapted to fit over said spindle and having hoppers adapted to register with, and be interposed between the chutes and the openings in the receiving plate.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. KNOWLTON. Witnesses:

S. W. BATES, C. B. CREIGHTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 2D. C. 

